Report: U.S., China added the most wind power capacity in 2012Global installed wind power capacity grew by nearly 20% in 2012 to reach 282 gigawatts, the Global Wind Energy Council reported. The U.S. and China installed the most with 13 GW apiece, followed by Germany, India and the U.K. with about 2 GW each, GWEC said. China has the most installed wind power capacity at 77 GW, followed by the U.S. with 60 GW, the council said. The Guardian (London)
(2/11)

Capistrano gets $100M investment from Australian pension fundCapistrano Wind Partners has secured a $100 million investment from a unit of Australian pension fund AMP. The commitment is "on behalf of a large Australian superannuation fund client," AMP said. Capistrano Wind Partners operates five wind farms in Nebraska, Texas and Wyoming with a combined generating capacity of 413 megawatts. Bloomberg Businessweek
(2/11)

Why Platform Matters When Choosing an ERP SystemIn order to survive, grow, and compete in the digital age, organizations need an ERP that is highly flexible and able to adapt. So, what are the tough platform questions you should ask yourself when shopping for an ERP? Download the report to find out!

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Project Focus

N.H. regulators say no to Eolian Energy wind projectNew Hampshire's Site Evaluation Committee voted 6-3 to deny a permit to Eolian Energy's proposed Antrim wind project. It is the first time that state regulators have rejected a wind project. The 30-megawatt project would have placed turbines on a ridgetop overlooking a wildlife sanctuary, but a legal counsel for the committee said the sanctuary was just one factor in the committee's decision. The ruling "was based on the region in general and the primarily visual impact that these particular turbines would have there," the legal counsel said. New Hampshire Public Radio
(2/11)

Iberdrola puts numbers to N.H. wind project community revenueIberdrola Renewables answered claims that its proposed Wild Meadows Wind Power Project in New Hampshire's Alexandria, Danbury and Grafton towns wouldn't contribute significantly to the towns' economies and would hurt property values in the area. In its initial year of operations, the project is expected to add $286,000 to Alexandria's tax base, $352,000 to Danbury and $176,000 to Grafton, said Ed Cherian, a senior developer for Iberdrola Renewables. Fear of declining property values "is an emotional issue," said Cherian, adding that "these projects have been found to have no impact on property values." The Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)
(2/10)

First floating offshore wind farm in the U.S. could rise in MaineMaine could become the home of the first offshore wind farm in the U.S. after Statoil North America won local and federal support to place four floating wind turbines in 500-foot-deep water along the state's coastline. Statoil's goal is to lower the price of offshore wind power to about 10 to 15 cents per kilowatt hour within 10 years. FastCoExist
(2/11)

Policy Watch

Md. bill could spark offshore wind boom in region, observers sayA bill championed by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley could form the foundation for a thriving offshore wind industry along the Atlantic seaboard, observers said. The bill, which would support the development of a 211-megawatt offshore wind farm and require utilities to buy offshore wind power by 2017, is expected to bring in 850 construction jobs and 160 permanent jobs. "You have to start with initial steps, sometimes small steps, and that's what this Maryland bill is," said Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Bloomberg
(2/11)

AWEA Wind Project Siting SeminarTurning the PTC extension into a success for new projects in 2013 begins with siting. This year, the AWEA Wind Project Siting Seminar comes just in time to help you identify and address potential risks while reducing costs and avoiding delays. With the PTC extension's start-construction language, it's vital to avoid any setbacks in the permitting process. Register before prices increase after Feb. 15.

These stories were selected and summarized by independent editors at SmartBrief Inc., not by AWEA's staff, and do not represent AWEA positions. They reflect the variety of daily coverage of American wind power.